| October 20, 2001 | Saturday | Shaba'an 2, 1422 |
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Need for UN umbrella
Sufferings of the Afghans
Umra visa
Govt College of Commerce & Economics
A project left incomplete
Flurry of Fatwas
Unrest in Pakistan
Line rent
Media coverage
Ridley in Afghanistan
Vandalizing the Taj
Powell’s remark
Need for a change in US policy
MYSTERY still shrouds the aerial assaults of September 11 on New York and Washington. Nobody knows for sure what has actually happened. One thing is pretty sure that it was due to sheer negligence of US intelligence agencies on which not less than $25 billion are spent annually.
The agencies cleverly put the blame on the ready-made suspect, Osama bin Laden, who would have readily accepted the responsibility had he done so. Amidst FBI/CIA investigation and interrogations to identify the culprit, the US, ignoring this exercise, chose a wholesale offensive on the Taliban-controlled Afghanistan with all its might. The Taliban offer for negotiations and dialogue, requests for any proof of Osama’s involvement were cries in the wilderness.
Laser guided bunker busters, sophisticated B-52 and Tomahawk and cruise missiles are used day and night from US submarines, aircraft carriers and bases, adding to the miseries of the war-torn and famine stricken Afghans. One bewildered Afghan was quoted as saying that American had better drop an atomic bomb on Afghanistan and be done with it.
In Afghanistan, there are not many military targets which the US was promising to hit to kill Osama and the Taliban. A few Osama camps, the Taliban headquarters in Kabul, Kandahar and Jalalabad. Had there been targeted attacks, it was a matter of hardly one day for the experienced US air force. But the real US objective does not seem to be killing or capturing Osama as claimed. It is wider. It is to overthrow the Taliban government and replace it by the US and Russian-backed northern alliance, which will open the way for US owned oil and gas pipelines running south from Uzbekistan, as identified by ES Margolis (Dawn October 12).
By doing all this Mr Bush will not be doing any good to the American people. They are already ashamed of the long record of their government’s acts of aggression and terrorism.
REAS EKBERG
Lahore
THE editorial, ‘Hasty and brusque’ is very timely. We are at a crossroads. Going right will stop the war and save the world. Going left will prolong the war, prolong the miseries, not only in Afghanistan but also in many Muslim countries.
People are dying everywhere. The whole world cannot be held hostage to the whims of one arrogant man — “when I say no bargaining, it means no bargaining”. The interests of so many cannot be sacrificed just to build up the vote bank of one man, even if he is the US president.
Let the coalition partners show us that they are partners and not camp followers. Pakistan’s position was that all actions must be under the UN umbrella. Has that position also been abandoned in the ‘national interest’?
The US, of course, wants not only Osama bin Laden but also the end of the Taliban. Just because they were not willing to surrender their honoured guest who saved their neck from the Russians, because they want solid evidence before considering a step that goes against their grain. Their culture does not allow it. It is about time the Americans started reading up about the cultures of other peoples inhabiting the earth for far longer than they have.
Toppling regimes, and bringing in ‘suitable’ replacements, are an old game with the US, courtesy CIA. Mossadeq, Ngo Dinh Diem, Patrice Lumumba, Sukarno, Salvadore Allende and God knows how many more. It is now the turn of the Taliban to be replaced with the northern alliance. The only US failures have been in Vietnam and Cuba.
Let Pakistan heed Kissinger’s words - being an enemy of America can be dangerous, being their friend is fatal.
KHURSHID ANWER
Lahore
IN an interview, Sadruddin Hashwani has reportedly given his pragmatic assessment that President Pervez Musharraf has taken the right decision regarding the Afghan conflict. He says businessmen from all walks of life should endorse Musharraf’s policy.
Likewise, Rashida Patel, erudite female attorney and protagonist of human rights, says that Musharraf is absolutely correct and had no other option.
Out of the four million Pakistanis who have officially left the country, three million have migrated to America and Canada. Retired bureaucrats and middle class people from Pakistan, their children employed as professionals or owning stores and even large businesses can be seen all over America with their families. It is feared that Pakistanis in America would be ostracized, denied employment and opportunities for loans from banks for their businesses and cut off from the mainstream if President Musharraf had taken a different decision.
But the ground realities regarding of Afghanistan and Pakistan are different from what they were many years ago. Following Zia-ul-Haq’s direct involvement in the affairs of Afghanistan by making Pakistan the conduit to undo the Soviet empire, Afghanistan is an extension of Pakistan. What happens in Afghanistan directly affects Pakistan and vice-versa. We can no longer be a disinterested party to the sufferings of Afghan men, women and children caused by American bombardments. I weep at the TV footage displaying helpless women and barefooted children in the refugee camps.
Prince Talal Abdul Aziz made a donation of 10 million dollars for the victims of World Trade Centre. It was turned down by New York’s Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, because Prince Talal had also written that the Palestine dispute should be settled.
The ten million dollars of Prince Talal should be contributed to Sattar Edhi Trust to help the Afghan refugees. I am told Sattar Edhi is overstretched in his assistance programme meant for the unfortunate Afghan men, women and children who have fled from their once secure homes.
M. AZIZ HAJI DOSSA (ALEX)
Karachi
SINCE decades Umra visas have been issued directly by the Saudi government officials in the embassy or consulates to an individual or group submitting the application either by himself or through the airlines’ representatives. The visa was available to the intending pilgrim in two weeks’ time at the maximum and there was no fee for it.
But recently a cumbersome procedure has been introduced which requires the intending pilgrim to route his application through approved agents who charge a fee for the Umra visa and usually take more than one month to make the visa available to the pilgrim.
Furthermore on arrival at the Jeddah airport the pilgrim is deprived of his travel documents which are taken away by the agent. In Saudi Arabia it is very risky to walk without a passport and Aqama and more dangerous when one does not have any proof of one’s legal entry into the kingdom.
The passport and tickets being in the possession of the agent, the return journey confirmation is not possible well in time. Also when the flight and date of travel is notified to the agent, the travel documents are not delivered by the specified time and date with the result that the pilgrim is stranded at the airport.
It is requested that the governments of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia review the policy and revert to the old procedure.
LT COL (R) BASIT ALI KHAN
Karachi
IT is reliably learnt that there is a calculated move afoot to convince the government to change the administrative structure of the Government College of Commerce & Economics by placing it under the control of a board of governors.
Since its inception, the college has prospered and achieved excellence in all the fields, under the control of the provincial government. What has then happened to prompt the basic change? Is it for the good of education, the students and the parents or is it motivated by reasons other than those presented to the governor?
The answer is not difficult to find. Through sincere and devoted efforts of the college staff past and present, the college has achieved excellence in the academic field and is rightly graded as a prestigious institution. Being in the public sector it has served all classes of the society equally without burdening the students with expenses beyond the reach of the middle and lower middle classes.
How will then the contemplated change work? The college is functioning well and the new setup cannot bring about any improvement which the present staff is not capable of achieving. What the change would do is to deprive the middle and lower class students of good education because of high costs that will follow with the change. It is also more than likely that most of the staff responsible for building the present prestigious status may have to make way for favoured personnel.
There seems to be yet another motive behind the preplanned move. Despite the best efforts of some institutions in the private sector with costly education, the college has withstood the challenge and continues to maintain its standard. Then again some people might have an eye on the valuable land of the college.
A lot more can be said on the subject, particularly about the disadvantages of the motivated move. The government will be well advised to turn down the proposal in the best interest of the student community at large.
ASAD S. AHMAD
Karachi
THE KDA did an excellent job by focussing its attention on the neglected but an important intersection known as Safoora Goth Chowrangee. University Road comes to an end at this point and Malir Cantonment road starts here.
To the left there is a 200 feet wide two-lane road leading to the new Sabzi Mandi. Also on this road lies the newly established Cancer Hospital known as Karachi Institute of Radiotherapy & Nuclear Medicine, a prestigious project of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission.
Just as the realigning work at this chowrangee was about to be completed, it came to a standstill. The whole area now carries a deserted look and the flow of traffic is badly affected as the proposed roundabouts have not been built. Will the authorities concerned issue instructions for the early completion of the project so that the money spent out of public funds might be gainfully utilized.
GHOLAM HASNAIN
Karachi
WE have tens of thousands of qualified lawyers practising in this country. Although many of them render opinions, orally or in writing, the opinions are not given or received as definitive. Only the duly-established courts render binding judgments. There is a prescribed system of appeals to higher courts; final judgments are pronounced by the Supreme Court.
This is a necessary condition for civil society. Any attempts at bypassing the duly-established system of adjudication would result in lawlessness and severe economic disruptions.
But what we find is a flurry of Fatwas, some calling for confrontation with the State. These Fatwas are rendered with presumption of authority, in the name of Islam, frequently with demands of compliance from all true and good Muslims. If people were to take these pronouncements seriously, we would speedily fall into anarchy. It is worth remembering that we have scholars following different schools of jurisprudence. Furthermore, scholars belonging to the same Fiqah frequently offer differing pronouncements.
It is essential that the formally-established judicial system is strengthened and its writ followed, otherwise there will be a breakdown of social order.
DANISHMAND
Karachi
I would like to disagree with Rafeeq Zaheer ( Oct 14) who says that India would be delighted with the ongoing unrest in Pakistan. No, Mr Zaheer, you are sadly mistaken, we in India are watching the happenings in Pakistan with concern and certainly with no sense of glee.
We understand that these are difficult times for your country and it is a defining moment in your history. We are hoping that Pakistan would come out of these turbulent times stronger and more stable. We are surely farsighted enough to understand that such a Pakistan is not only in our interest, but also in the interest of the entire South Asia. We know that if Pakistan collapses, India would be the first country to face the consequences.
We also know that Pakistan has been called upon to make hard choices. We have faith in the leadership and the people of your country hope that you would be able to weather this storm. If anything, our prayers and best wishes are with the people of Pakistan.
GOPI SHANKAR
Bangalore, India
OUR telephone, number 2219235 at 3/5 Al Yusuf Chambers at New Challi, has been out of order since the last rains in early July, and we are burdened so far with three months line rent without being able to use the phone.
We have lodged innumerable complaints. We have also referred our case to Helpline 106 three times, but without any success.
We also request that a provision should be made in the relevant rules to refund the line rent in such cases.
A SUBSCRIBER
Karachi
THE United States has conveniently sabotaged media coverage of the reaction to American strikes. As a consequence, we only get to see the anti-American sentiment being represented by bearded fanatics who hail Osama as their hero, set the UN offices on fire and burn effigies of President Bush.
The voice of those moderates who condemn the terrorist acts and support the US strikes but at the same time maintain that the United States needs to review and rethink its blatantly biased foreign policy, which is at the root of terrorism, is not being heard. This is due to the simple reason that it suits the US interest to portray its opponents as extremists and radicals rather than as rational and reasonable individuals.
Interestingly, the Musharraf government claims that it has the support of the aforementioned moderate class which, he claims, forms a majority of the Pakistani nation. His claim, however, is hardly substantiated by what one gets to see on television or read in the newspapers.
While the outrage of the Mullah brigade enjoys front page coverage, and hourly updates by CNN, the more pertinent issues like American policy in Iraq, Palestine and Kashmir are being dismissed as “lousy” propaganda by Al Qaeda supporters. I believe that it is the duty of the Musharraf government to let the voice of its supporters be heard.
It is time to let the US know that if terrorism has to go, so must the culture of neo-imperialism nurtured by generations of American policy-makers.
SYED SHAHAB QUTUB
Lahore
“HOW did the Taliban treat you?”
“With courtesy and respect,” replied Yvonne Ridley, the British journalist who had managed to sneak into Afghanistan.
But isn’t it the norm worldwide that entering into a country without a visa is illegal and also that illegal aliens get arrested. In the case of Ridley, it was all the more normal because she belonged to a country involved in mercilessly bombing innocent civilians in Afghanistan.
The kindness shown by Taliban towards Ridley is not surprising. That is the true spirit of Islam. But in spite of all that, Ridley has chosen to spit and fuss over her ‘hosts’ for not offering her a 5-star hotel accommodation.
The least Ridley can do now is to join the protest against war in Afghanistan.
M.A. BAIG
Karachi
THIS is with reference to the editorial, ‘vandalizing’ the Taj (Oct 16).
A few party workers of the BJP did commit some nuisance within that historical complex but the event was so insignificant that it was not even covered in our press, what to speak of any editorial comment on it.
As in most countries, historical monuments have often been pillaged and vandalized. This has happened even here in India also. But rest assured the Taj, the Red Fort, Humayun’s tomb and other monuments in India will survive the onslaught of a few ignorant ‘vandals’.
BRIJESH ROBINSON
Bangalore, India
US Secretary of State Colin Powell has said - Kashmir is central to the relations between India and Pakistan. I wonder whether the Indians have stomached this remark.
KAMAL AHMAD
Lahore
THIS is in response to Imran Khan’s article “Two wrongs don’t make a right” (Oct 14).
I may point out that “internal terrorism in Pakistan”, in an appreciable measure, is a consequence of Ziaul Haq’s encouragement to the extreme rightwing fringe parties and religious groups that operated under their aegis. This served a devisive political purpose and led to sectarian violence.
Mr Khan has not spelled out what options the US had in the aftermath of the Sept 11 attacks’. “A world body should be formed” cannot be a realistic response initiative for the aligned nations against terrorism, especially in the near future.
I do not think that Pakistan’s security can be endangered by the extremists in Pakistan and Afghanistan, simply because both the Pakistan army and the mainstream Pakistanis have a liberal orientation.
Insofar as Washington’s foreign policy is concerned, one positive outcome of the terrorism that goes on in the US, somewhat unabated, is that the American foreign policy will now have to undergo a drastic change. One dimension of which will have to focus on endurance of international commitments. Without such a focus “Operation Enduring Freedom” will fall flat on its face. I suspect that the policymakers in and around the White House are acutely aware of the need for such a change. As my friend Terry Haglund put it, “a one night stand” approach in advancing US policy abroad will not work any longer.
Secondly, US support for the rightwing parties of Israel will have to stop. The undeniable fact in the protracted middle-east conflict is that the progressive left leaning parties in Israel genuinely want to engage in the peace process. The credit must go to them that there has not been a major war in that region in more than a quarter of a century.
The US support to the rightwing allows the hardliners to undermine the impact that the liberal Jews have been trying hard to bear on the polity of Israel. It is imperative, therefore, that the US keep the likes of Sharon and Netanyahu under severe check. Without such a discriminatory policy towards the rightwing parties in Israel, the prospect of both peace in the middle east and cessation of international terrorism will remain a mirage.
RAO AMJAD ALI
Montreal, Canada
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